Contact induced damage

Contact induced damage is an important source of potential failure of engineering components. The particular applications where this damage occurs are in the automotive, aerospace and computer industries, among others. Problems associated with such damage are unique in that the loading is compressive and the failures due to loading can be in shear, when the damage initiates, and tension, when large cracks develop once the initiation process has begun. This survey will look at some examples of recent studies that have been made by researchers concerned with the compressive damage associated with concentrated contacts. Most of the applications cited will be directed towards metallic applications and will concentrate on the initiation and propagation of cracks developed under contact fatigue.